Plants that like alkaline soil prefer a soil pH higher than 7. Plants that can tolerate a pH level of 7 or higher tend to benefit from the alkalinity. This article will explore a variety of flowering plants, shrubs, and flowers that do not mind soil alkalinity.
We will also discuss the different needs, growing seasons, and characteristics of these plants. Keep reading to find out which plant you can grow in your vegetable garden or backyard.
Contents
A List of Plants That Enjoy Alkaline Soils
The pH of alkaline or sweet soil is higher than that of acidic soil. The pH scale runs from level 0 to 14, with 7 being neutral. Soil having a pH of 7.0 or higher is called alkaline, whereas a pH soil below 7 is considered acidic.
The plants on this list all enjoy alkaline soils. So, remember to test the pH of your garden soil using a pH testing kit before you start planting.
1. Campanulas
Campanulas, sometimes known as bellflower plants, are cheerful perennial flowers. The main feature is the upturned, open cup-shaped flowers in pink and white, but mostly lavender or light blue.
The plant is native to many areas with chilly nights and moderate temperatures, making it excellent for cultivating bellflowers. All campanulas can grow in alkaline or neutral soil except for a few that can withstand slight acidity. This plant prefers moist but well-drained soil in terms of drainage.
– Growing Season
The optimum time for campanulas to bloom is from June to July. There are however outliers that will flower into October.
– Specific Needs
Most campanulas grow naturally on calcareous meadows and forest borders, which is great if you cultivate in alkaline soil. Campanulas prefer moist but well-drained soil and suffer in damp winter conditions. Some thrive in direct sunlight, while others tolerate shade.
2. Ceanothus
Ceanothus is a beautiful blue-flowering shrub with tight thimble-like clusters of small blooms. They are available in evergreen and deciduous varieties, with deciduous varieties being hardier and having larger leaves and looser flower clusters.
They can be cultivated as border plants, ground cover, or informal hedges, and they look especially good when trained against a south or west-facing wall.
Ceanothus requires good drainage but thrives in low-nutrient soils. They thrive on alkaline soil.
– Growing Season
Most ceanothus bloom for six weeks, starting from late spring to early summer, while others bloom in July or August. Certain kinds have white or pink flowers.
– Specific Needs
They require protection from high winds and harsh frosts. Growing against a south-facing wall is frequently effective. Once grown, most cultivars require full sun, well-drained soil, and little to no water. Because they do not withstand rigorous trimming, put the shrub in a location where it will have ample space when fully grown.
3. Geranium
Geraniums are popular garden bedding plants but can also be cultivated indoors or outside in hanging baskets. Growing geranium plants is simple if you know what they require. In most zones, geranium plants are planted as annuals; however, in zones 10 and 11, they are considered evergreen perennials.
Although hardy geraniums adapt to many soil types, they are alkaline-loving plants. However, they also grow well in acidic soils, but a pH below 6.0 is not acceptable for these plants.
– Growing Season
Geraniums are renowned for their extended flowering season, which begins in the spring and can extend into the fall. Plants kept at temperatures between 45 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit may also bloom from winter to early spring.
– Specific Needs
Geraniums require a minimum six hours of direct sunlight daily for optimal development and flowering. Keep away from freezing temperatures. They thrive in the midday shade throughout the hottest months of the year. Plants should be spaced 8 to 12 inches apart in rich garden soil.
4. Lavender
Lavender, a culinary herb with numerous culinary purposes, is also a lovely addition to perennial gardens and borders, giving sweeping drifts of color from early summer to fall.
Lavender is perfect for making informal hedges due to its silvery-green foliage, tall flower spikes, and compact shrub-like appearance. It can also be used to create aromatic floral arrangements, sachets, and potpourri.
– Growing Season
While lavender is typically considered a summer flower, certain Lavender plants grow early in the spring with gorgeous blossoms. Others bloom late, with blooms appearing midsummer and lasting until late summer. Some bloom practically constantly from spring until the end of summer.
– Specific Needs
Lavender plants need direct sunshine to thrive and should be placed accordingly. Plants thrive on light to sandy, well-drained soils with a pH of 5.8-8.3. Once established, the plants are drought tolerant, but they require constant watering as they establish.
5. Hydrangea
Hydrangeas are ideal for various garden settings, including group plantings, shrub borders, and containers. Pink flowering plants require neutral to alkaline soil (pH 6.5 and higher). Purple blooms require soil pH levels between 5.5 and 6.5 (or a blend of pink and blue blossoms on the same plant).
Hydrangeas are commonly cultivated in various kinds for their huge globular flower clusters in rose, lavender, blue, and, on rare occasions, white.
– Growing Season
The variety, cultivar, and planting zone determine the blooming season of hydrangeas. Most new-growth hydrangeas form buds in early summer to bloom the following spring, summer, and early fall. Hydrangeas in warmer areas may stop blooming in the summer but will rebloom in the fall.
– Specific Needs
Most hydrangeas flourish in fertile, well-draining soils with sufficient rainfall. Compost should be added to poor soil to improve it. Hydrangeas, in general, prefer partial sun. They should be given full and direct morning sun and shade in the evening to protect them from the scorching midday sun.
6. Asparagus
Asparagus is a perennial, which means the fragile spears will return year after year once it’s established. Furthermore, its ferny foliage adds a wonderful decorative touch.
Asparagus grows best in well-drained, alkaline soils with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0 and will not thrive in severely acidic soils. However, it can also tolerate all types of soil ranging from heavy, medium, to sandy as long as they are well-drained and do not collect water after rain.
– Growing Season
Asparagus is a simple plant that produces wonderful fresh shoots from mid-spring to early summer – a seasonal pleasure to enjoy. These enormous perennial plants must be cultivated in the ground, not in pots, where they will regularly produce for many years.
– Specific Needs
Asparagus should be grown in non compacted soils with good drainage and moisture retention. The soil pH should be between 6.2 and 7.0. Avoid planting asparagus in places where it has previously been grown.
7. Marjoram
Marjoram is a mint family-sensitive perennial herb cultivated for thousands of years. Marjoram herbs are simple to grow and have numerous culinary applications, like using fresh or dried marjoram to spice up meat or fish. Marjoram can handle pH levels ranging from 4.5 to 8.5; the best soil is a sandy, rich, well-draining, alkaline mixture with a pH range of 6.5 to 7.0.
– Growing Season
Spring is the most favorable season for marjoram growth. Plant sweet marjoram after the last frost in the spring. It grows nicely in containers and is also an excellent choice for an edible ground cover.
Marjoram can be harvested all year, although the flavor is best in the summer. Before the flower buds open, pick the leaves. Marjoram leaves are typically used fresh, although oregano leaves can be dried or refrigerated and preserved.
– Specific Needs
Marjoram needs to be planted in full sun with light, well-drained soil. Marjoram plants can also be cultivated in containers inside and used as houseplants. Throughout the growing season, keep plants trimmed by cutting the leaves. Cut the plants back to the ground when flower buds appear to stimulate new growth.
8. Forsythias
Forsythias is a genus of deciduous flowering shrubs in the olive family. These low-maintenance, fast-growing shrubs have an erect, arching form and are recognized for their long branches that are covered with vivid yellow blooms in the early spring. Because the flowers appear before the leaves, you get a fantastic look at the blooms with no foliage to obscure your view.
Forsythias are flowering bushes that tolerate alkaline soils well. These deer-resistant beauties bloom profusely in the broad sun but may also tolerate partial shade.
– Growing Season
Forsythia blooms in the spring. The flowers appear early in the spring, before the leaves, creating a delightful display of bright yellow blooms. Plants in the upper Midwest typically bloom for one to two weeks from late March to mid-April.
– Specific Needs
In garden borders, grow forsythia in full sun or light shade. Large pots are best suited to the most compact kinds. Except for waterlogged or excessively dry soil, forsythias flourish in a wide range of soils, with the best results in fertile, well-drained soil.
9. Holm oak
Holm oak is an evergreen broadleaf tree that can reach a height of 20 meters and generate a massive, spherical crown. The holm oak is a plant that can grow in various soil types, including chalk, clay, loam, and sand. The chalky soil is pale and contains calcium-rich rock pieces. It is fertile, well-draining soil that is nearly always alkaline.
– Growing Season
The most effective season to plant holm oak is summer or winter; better on cloudy and humid days.
Holm oaks do not require pruning, but if you want to shape a tree or hedge, do so in the summer.
– Specific Needs
Oak trees thrive in humus-rich, well-drained soils and, once established, prefer full light. Young seedlings may require to be watered once a week until they establish themselves if rain is erratic, but mature oak trees can endure drought, clayey soils, and other less-than-ideal conditions.
10. Kale
Kale is a tough, resilient edible green that does not flower. It’s one of the simplest brassica family members to cultivate (including cabbage, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and other common cole crops).
Kale is one of the healthiest greens you can grow. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals and antioxidants, and it tastes wonderful. Kale grows well in soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5, which is more alkaline.
– Growing Season
Kale is a sturdy cool-season crop that thrives best in the spring and fall. It can withstand the cold well and will even survive snow.
– Specific Needs
Kale grows best in full light, although it may also take moderate shade. Plants that receive less than 6 hours of sunlight each day will not be as stocky or leafy as those that receive more sunlight but will still be delicious. Kale prefers fertile soil to grow quickly and produce soft leaves.
Conclusion
We have compiled a list of plants to help you decide which one you can grow in alkaline soil. You can choose from various plants from trees, shrubs, herbs, and edible greens.
Whenever you decide to grow any plant, remember these points:
- Before growing any plants, make sure to check what kind of soil you have.
- Always do a soil pH test using a testing kit.
- If your pH ranges between 7.1 and 8.0, you have alkaline soil.
- Alkaline soils can grow plants that are impossible to grow in acidic soils like asparagus.
Now that you have various options for plants that like alkaline soils, you can easily choose the one you like. Happy alkaline planting!
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